Latest news with #RichardWagstaff
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
WorkSafe changes will deter employees from raising concerns
Worksafe HQ in Wellington Central Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver The Council of Trade Unions says proposed changes to WorkSafe shifts rights away from workers and to their employers. The government is shifting WorkSafe's priorities from enforcement, to giving more advice . The safety regulator is getting a new letter of expectations, having its finances rearranged, and it's main purpose re-defined in legislation. The changes would not come with any new funding. Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff told Morning Report the changes will deter employees from raising concerns, out of fear of being blamed. "What we need is a culture where workers are able to talk about what needs to be done on the job and what needs to be made safe, not one where they can be blamed for [it]," Wagstaff said. "I think it just reflects a government and a minister who sees everything as needing rebalance and she tends to rebalance things towards employers..." The existing system needs to be strengthened not weakened, he said. While he did support making advice clearer and more available, Wagstaff said WorkSafe was under-resourced. "And I think WorkSafe understands that... what they need is resources to develop that guidance and promote it." Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said she expected the regulator to review its enforcement and prosecution decision-making to focus on "clear breaches and causation", and being even handed. This would include "strengthening its approach to worker breaches of duty". "I've been hearing there is a real culture of fear of people around WorkSafe, and I want people to feel like if they ask for help they will get that help - and so for any business or any worker who wants to know what it is that they should be doing to keep their workers safe, they will know where to go," Van Velden said. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media in New Delhi, India on 19 March 2025. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi She denied that this could mean slowing down the rate of prosecutions. Wagstaff said WorkSafe needs to have a reputation that it will enforce the law when required. "This really signals it's not intended to do so anymore." Council of Trade Unions was not properly consulted on the changes, he said. Christopher Luxon told Morning Report just being an enforcement agency wasn't the right approach. "What we're wanting to do is rebalance it so it puts more of its effort on guiding those businesses to help manage their critical risks, what we don't want is lots of rules that actually people in businesses are struggling to navigate and as a result don't focus on the critical things that actually cause harm at work," Luxon said. "At the moment you just don't want to have a whole bunch of guidance and rules out there everyone's trying to navigate and work out what the hell it all means. "We actually want small businesses focused particularly on the things that will hurt their employees." Luxon said the government hoped the number of people dying at work decreased. Asked why the responsibility was shifted away from bosses to employees, Luxon said it was "rebalancing it". Everyone needed to take individual responsibility, he said.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Workplace Relations Minister refuses regular meetings with union
employment 27 minutes ago The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden has refused to have regular meetings with the Council of Trade Unions and has ruled out undoing the Pay Equity Changes. New Zealand Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff spoke to Charlotte Cook.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Unions Barred From Budget 2025 Lock-Up
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has sent an open letter to the Government objecting to its decision to block the NZCTU and other unions from attending the Budget lock-up on 22 May. 'We object in the strongest possible terms to the Government's decision to bar the NZCTU from the Budget 2025 lock-up. The NZCTU represents over 300,000 workers across the private and public sectors and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand,' said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. 'Workers will be significantly impacted by the decisions made by government at Budget 2025, and it is important that the NZCTU can accurately report on Budget decisions to ensure working people are properly briefed. 'This Government appears to believe the banks, international financial institutions, and consulting houses are more important than working people, and it seems that is why the representatives of working people have been denied access. 'Last week the Government made the highly controversial decision to unilaterally gut the pay equity claims process. It is therefore unsurprising that it doesn't want working people to understand the rationale and impacts of its Budget decisions this year,' said Wagstaff.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Unions To Hold Nationwide Day Of Action On May Day
Press Release – NZCTU This Thursday 1 May (May Day) the union movement are holding a Nationwide Day of Action to fight back against the Government's anti-worker agenda. Thousands of workers from a wide range of industries in both the public and private sectors will be taking action including participating in lunchtime hui, stop work meetings, and strike action, with key events in 12 centres from Whāngarei to Invercargill. 'Every year on May Day workers and their unions around the world celebrate the union movement, our history, and our purpose – to build workers' power and solidarity,' said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. 'This year we are coming together to resist the ongoing assault on workers and unions in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past 18 months. This Government has declared war on working people. They are removing our rights, destroying jobs, and ruining the economy. 'We are sending send a strong message to those in power that we demand a better deal for working people, and an end to the attack on unions. We will also be calling on the Government to deliver pay equity and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 'Workers are sick and tired of having their rights trampled on by this Government, and this Thursday will be out in force to demand change,' said Wagstaff. Details of nationwide events: Whāngarei Tarewa Park 12-1pm Auckland Manukau Plaza 12-1pm Hamilton Hamilton Lake Rose Garden 12.30-1.30pm New Plymouth Huatoki Plaza 12-1pm Mt Maunganui Hopukiore (Mt Drury) Reserve 12-1pm Rotorua Ranolf & Arawa St roundabout 12-1pm Palmerston North Arena 3 12.30-1.30pm Wellington Queens Wharf 12-1pm Nelson 1903 Square (Top of Trafalgar St) 12.30-1.30pm Christchurch Addington Raceway 12-1pm Dunedin Otago University Student Union Hall 12.30-1.30pm Invercargill Workingmens Club 12.30-1.30pm In addition to these main events, health unions have organised events at hospitals focusing on workers' rights and the public health system. Details of those hui can be found here.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Unions To Hold Nationwide Day Of Action On May Day
Press Release – NZCTU We are sending send a strong message to those in power that we demand a better deal for working people, and an end to the attack on unions. We will also be calling on the Government to deliver pay equity and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This Thursday 1 May (May Day) the union movement are holding a Nationwide Day of Action to fight back against the Government's anti-worker agenda. Thousands of workers from a wide range of industries in both the public and private sectors will be taking action including participating in lunchtime hui, stop work meetings, and strike action, with key events in 12 centres from Whāngarei to Invercargill. 'Every year on May Day workers and their unions around the world celebrate the union movement, our history, and our purpose – to build workers' power and solidarity,' said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. 'This year we are coming together to resist the ongoing assault on workers and unions in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past 18 months. This Government has declared war on working people. They are removing our rights, destroying jobs, and ruining the economy. 'We are sending send a strong message to those in power that we demand a better deal for working people, and an end to the attack on unions. We will also be calling on the Government to deliver pay equity and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 'Workers are sick and tired of having their rights trampled on by this Government, and this Thursday will be out in force to demand change,' said Wagstaff. Details of nationwide events: Whāngarei Tarewa Park 12-1pm Auckland Manukau Plaza 12-1pm Hamilton Hamilton Lake Rose Garden 12.30-1.30pm New Plymouth Huatoki Plaza 12-1pm Mt Maunganui Hopukiore (Mt Drury) Reserve 12-1pm Rotorua Ranolf & Arawa St roundabout 12-1pm Palmerston North Arena 3 12.30-1.30pm Wellington Queens Wharf 12-1pm Nelson 1903 Square (Top of Trafalgar St) 12.30-1.30pm Christchurch Addington Raceway 12-1pm Dunedin Otago University Student Union Hall 12.30-1.30pm Invercargill Workingmens Club 12.30-1.30pm In addition to these main events, health unions have organised events at hospitals focusing on workers' rights and the public health system. Details of those hui can be found here.
